Running a Rental Business

Tips for Filling Rental Vacancies During Slow Seasons

As we head out of the high traffic summer and into slow travel time, many beg the question, do I lower my rental home prices to draw customers in? Many individuals who host vacation rentals have to decide whether they should reduce the rent or risk having no one rent from you. If you are […]

By The Turno Team

Last updated: December 07, 2023

As we head out of the high traffic summer and into slow travel time, many beg the question, do I lower my rental home prices to draw customers in? Many individuals who host vacation rentals have to decide whether they should reduce the rent or risk having no one rent from you.

If you are experiencing this same issue, here are four tips that may be helpful for filling your vacation rental vacancies.

Vacation Rental Vacancies
Short-term Vacation Rental Vacancies

1) Expand your rental horizons

In other words, don’t limit yourself to just one rental site. Instead, post your rental listing on a variety of sites. For example, don’t restrict your rental listing to just Airbnb. Consider using other credible sites such as HomeAway and Vacation Rentals By Owner.

2) Offer promotions to past guests

If you have been renting for a while now, chances are you may have had some recurring guests or guests that were very pleased with their stay. In this case, reaching out to past guests and offering a slight discount or free cleaning services may entice them to return. You can also give them the option to extend this promotion to their family and friends, as a form of word of mouth marketing.

3) Market your property

Marketing your vacation rental can be as easy as posting signs near your property to hanging up posters at locations such as real estate offices or local activity centers. Posting your short-term rental on free online ads can also prove to be a useful way to draw attention to your listing.

4) Drop the rates

If all else fails and you are still having difficulty renting out your property, you may want to consider lowering your rates. Although it is not ideal charging less than you feel your property is worth, it is better than losing the income altogether.

The Turno Team Avatar
The Turno Team , The Turno Team researches and publishes articles designed to provide short-term rental Hosts, Property Managers, and Airbnb Cleaners with insightful, useful resources. Articles written by the Turno Team cover a wide range of STR interests, from the latest industry data and best practices to real-world, practical advice on running efficient, revenue-generating vacation rental businesses in an ever-changing market. Here at Turno, we’re always looking for original ideas and hot new topics. Have something you’re curious to learn more about? Interested in authoring a guest blog? Drop us a line at [email protected].